Milton Edward Dankworth

Milton Edward Dankworth, age 80, of Ballinger died Saturday, December 6, 2008 at Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo.

Born April 9, 1928 in Ballinger, Texas to James Ellis Dankworth and Sadie Eloise (Boggess) Dankworth, Ed grew up in Ballinger before joining the 82nd Airborne. He went to Hollywood in his early twenties to become a singing cowboy, and there he met the owner of a large theater empire with theaters in the territory of Alaska. He moved to Alaska in the early fifties to manage the theaters, and met the woman who would become his wife and mother of his three children, Anne Grabowski. They were married in 1953 in Juneau, Alaska. With a love for entertainment and a background in law enforcement, his future took shape.

He became one of the first ten territorial policemen in Alaska. At that time they were responsible for policing the vastness of the whole state of Alaska. After statehood in 1959, Ed rose through the ranks of the newly formed Alaska State Troopers, where he retired in 1974 as Colonel and Director of the organization.

In 1974 he was elected to two terms in the Alaska State House of Representatives, and to two terms in the Alaska State Senate, where he presided as State Finance Chairman. He was instrumental in appropriating money for infrastructure that Alaskans still enjoy today. After public service Ed became a powerful lobbyist, known as the 21st Senator, and he continued to help pioneer the growth and development of Alaska. Ed remained in entertainment through his business ventures, in large film format tourist theaters, in Alaska and Hawaii. He received Alaska’s most prestigious award, the Alaska Gold Pan Award, for Alaskan of the Year. Ed lived his pioneer spirit by building his own cabin on a beautiful and remote Alaskan lake. There he enjoyed the beauty of Alaska, his wife and children, for over 40 years.

Ed spent his time between Alaska and Ballinger for many years, until recently when his roots took him home to Ballinger and the house where he was born. In Alaska Ed was known as “Big Ed.” He earned the name from his large Texas frame, and the large projects he accomplished. However, those closest to him know that he really earned the nickname from his large heart. His generosity, caring, and compassions for others will be greatly missed by all.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Grabowski Dankworth, in 1992; his parents, Jim and Sadie; and a brother, J. B. Dankworth.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter, Jim Dankworth and wife, Elizabeth, of Monterey, CA and their children, Janna and Drew; Bill Dankworth and his wife, Judy, of Anchorage, AK and their children, James, Chloe, and Jack; and Cindy Kelsey and husband, James, of Mesa, AZ and their children, Jake, Charlotte, Joe, and Ava; a sister, Eloise Loika of San Angelo; and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Dankworth of Ballinger.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 11, 2008 in the First United Methodist Church in Ballinger with Rev. Joe Chamness officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to services from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the
Larry F. Loika Transplant Fund
c/o San Angelo National Bank
Attn: Carla Howell
301 W. Beauregard Avenue
San Angelo, Texas 76903